Pierce three-pointer puts Raptors down three games to Wizards

John Wall produced 19 points and 15 assists, but it was Paul Pierce who hit two key 3s late as part of an 18-point performance, and the Wizards closed in on a first-round playoff sweep by beating the Toronto Raptors 106-99 on Friday night.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan, who scored a team playoff-record 20 points in the first quarter and 32 overall, summed up Pierce's status this way: "He still is who he is."

The Wizards lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series 3-0 and can end it Sunday, when they host Game 4. No NBA team has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason series.